DAN SLOTT: TAKING THE INITIATIVE

[MattBrady]

As Joe Quesada revealed in the latest New Joe Fridays, Dan Slot’s new title coming in 2007 will be Avengers: The Initiative, a six issue miniseries set in the aftermath of Civil War.

As Quesada said, it was Slott’s ideas for the concept that had Marvel editorial jazzed: “I've now sat in a few creative meetings with Dan and he is really coming of age here,” Quesada said. “I will say this and I kid you not, when it comes to creative spit balling, he is right up there with Bendis, JMS, Millar, Loeb and Brubaker. Dan Slott is the real deal, he's impressed us to no end, we just have to figure out a way to get him to write faster! He is the biggest superstar in comics that no one knows about.”

So – what are those ideas, not to mention, who’s that guy up there? We caught up with Slott for some answers…well, at least as much as he could say.

“Avengers: The Initiative…I’m not saying who wins Civil War – I’m not saying that at all,” the writer began, “But I will say that there are Pro-Registration heroes, and Anti-Registration heroes, and that for every single guy that registered, there is a price to pay. That price to pay is the Initiative. Whether you knew it or not when you registered, by signing that little slip of paper, you’ve been back-door drafted. If you signed up, you’re falling in when you’re called.

“Marvel’s army of super-heroes is now a super-hero army.”

With art by Stefano (Young Avengers/Runaways) Caselli and covers by Jim Cheung, the miniseries is, essentially, life after Civil War.

“This is the face of the Marvel Universe,” Slott said. “From now on, you need to read The Initiative. If you were digging what was going on with Civil War, you should check this out.”

As for how it came to be, as Quesada had said earlier, The Initiative was one of only a small handful of new projects approved to follow Civil War, and instantly caught everyone’s attention when it was pitched by Slott at a Marvel editorial retreat.

“Tom Brevoort was bouncing stuff off of me, and I came back with, ‘Well, if you’re going to do it, you should do it like this,’ and he turned it around and told me I should pitch it,” Slott revealed. “This really was something where you heard what was going on with Civil War, and see where all the pieces are on the map, and you just think, ‘this thing should exist.’ When the Civil War is over, there should be a book, and this should be that book.

“And I have to say, from the very start - as good and cool and awesome as the art was on Young Avengers/Runaways, the stuff that Stefano has turned in on this is amazing. That stuff was beautiful, and this stuff tops that. It’s also amazing to see what new characters are going to show up, and the design work Stefano has done on them. I’m ready for action figures. And Jim’s first cover? Poster. Needs to be a poster.”

And as far as who will be in the miniseries?

“As team members, we’ll get to see War Machine, Yellowjacket, Justice, the Gauntlet – who’s a new character [pictured above], and there will also be some other new Marvels, as well as some old Marvels – great Marvels, Big Marvels and small Marvels, fat Marvels and thin Marvels – they’re all going to be in this.”

For those who may be wondering if Slott will be bringing the funny to this series as he does with She-Hulk and his other work, the writer said that the funny is definitely staying in a box on his shelf for this one.

“This is not a fun boot camp,” Slott said. “I don’t want to tip it too much, but with She-Hulk, people see me do something whimsical; with The Thing and Spider-Man/Torch, people have seen me do something retro, and with GLA, people saw me do dark comedy. The Initiative is serious, hardcore superhero stuff. There are no happy or sad Marvels here – if you’re in The Initiative, you’re a ‘grrr’ Marvel. You’re a red meat eatin’ Marvel.

“People who like my stuff know that I have a great love of the Marvel Universe, and that whether it was She-Hulk, The Thing, or GLA, these are books that have been very much set in the Marvel Universe, with all kinds of characters running through. That’s going to continue in The Initiative. There’s going to be a wide spectrum of the Marvel Universe appearing in this book.

“And with characters like Yellowjackt and War Machine – everyone’s there. There will be moments when the camera goes a little to the left and a little to the right, and you’ll see…everyone. And also, with characters like the Gauntlet, you’re going to see the Marvel Universe grow a little bit too

“This is the Marvel Universe.”

[#O.N.E]

HOOORAY!!!! I was hoping Slott wouldn't contain the book to one character.

First Post

[Scott Mateo]

YAY JUSTICE!

Thank you thank you thank you for using Vance!

[Goldenboy]

War Machine and the Gauntlet (Who, despite being a new character, seems cool enough)?

Sign me up!

Will the presence of the Gauntlet also mean that Southpaw will be appearing in this at some point?

[Kolimar]

Great news. Dan Slott is a great storyteller. And Stefano, an excellent artist with a good handle on expressions. Just what I like.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Dan Slott is the real deal, he's impressed us to no end, we just have to figure out a way to get him to write faster!

Heheheh...

[RockLeefan]

I like the design of Gauntlet. I can remember years ago inventing a superhero called Gauntlet, always thought the name was taken, looks like it is now. I'll be very interested to see how "serious" Slott tales turn out. I just wish civil war would end so that we can hear more about what these post civil war titles are really about (although i appreciate the non-spoilers).

[Marine]

They should have called Gauntlet Power Fist instead, then Iron Man, Power Man, Iron Fist, and Power Fist can team up

[Tom Daylight]

The first step towards the RECKONING WAR!!

[BubbaKanoosh]

So I am guessing this title will have a main group of characters plus a little rotating lineup aswell. They'll "draft" different supers pending on the situation they are heading in for..

A team book with a rotating lineup. I like it. And it should be ongoing...

So, is James Rhodes no longer part of Sentinel Squad?

[IllShogun]

Sounds pretty vicious. Sign me up! Only six issues, though? And if War Machine is here, what does that bode for the O.N.E.? Hopefully it means they are concluding that mess of an idea sooner rather than later.

[avengingtitan]

Dan Slott + Avengers = GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!

[Lex]

I'm a big fan of Slott's writing, so I've been looking forward to this book since it was first hinted at.

And as much as I dislike Civil War, the Initiative thing was actually an interesting idea. So I'm glad to see it being followed up on after Civil War. Good call, Dan!

[Xenith]

War Machine left the Senitnel Squad in Black Panther 22.

[bluebird]

“As team members, we’ll get to see War Machine, Yellowjacket, Justice, the Gauntlet – who’s a new character [pictured above], and there will also be some other new Marvels, as well as some old Marvels – great Marvels, Big Marvels and small Marvels, fat Marvels and thin Marvels – they’re all going to be in this.”

No funny? Then why's he pitching it like Dr. Seuss? Seriously, the fact that this is Slott and Caselli makes it interesting to me, despite being a little burned out on Civil War (more so on what colossal dicks the characters themselves are, not the ideas).

I wonder if it will be tonally similar to the ARKHAM ASYLUM mini, the only serious Slott I've read.

[bluebird]

Originally Posted by Marine

They should have called Gauntlet Power Fist instead, then Iron Man, Power Man, Iron Fist, and Power Fist can team up

With the FF split up, I think you just found their replacements: The Ironpowerfistastic Four

[BurgundyTears]

the Gauntlet

With that logo I really thought his name was Thunderfist. I wonder if there's a connection to Slott's other character Southpaw?

Btw: The whole drafting aspect is the only reason I've been wary from the start about Iron Man's side. Accountability and training are great concepts and so is getting people organised when the Kree Empire is invading, but does this imply that any official can give your average humanitarian good guy a call and force him to assassinate a political rival or butcher a village connected to revolutionaries in an underdeveloped part of the World, since if he doesn't he'll get solitary confinement for life and his family will be arrested for housing a criminal? That's the part which would keep me up at night if I was a registered hero.

Then again as an average person I'd also be pretty scared to see planet-stomping vigilantes running around doing whatever they please. It will be interesting to see what happens.

[scorpion mk]

this sounds good

was it justice that hybrid looked up to?, maybe we'll see him again

[motteditor]

“As team members, we’ll get to see War Machine, Yellowjacket, Justice, the Gauntlet – who’s a new character [pictured above], and there will also be some other new Marvels, as well as some old Marvels – great Marvels, Big Marvels and small Marvels, fat Marvels and thin Marvels – they’re all going to be in this.”

Hank Pym's one of my favorites. Slott writing him? I think I'm going to cry. From joy. And hopefully he'll treat Vance and War Machine well. And if Gauntlet is there, can Southpaw be far behind? Southpaw! Southpaw! Southpaw! Because the fans DEMANDED it, Dan! (OK, fan, singular. Fine.)

And I still want to know the backstory of that armor -- and where the third piece appeared.

I like the design of Gauntlet. I can remember years ago inventing a superhero called Gauntlet, always thought the name was taken, looks like it is now. I'll be very interested to see how "serious" Slott tales turn out. I just wish civil war would end so that we can hear more about what these post civil war titles are really about (although i appreciate the non-spoilers).

Wasn't one of the X-Men foes the Dark Rider called Gauntlet? Which isn't to say someone else couldn't call him that. Be amusing if the two met at some point.

With that logo I really thought his name was Thunderfist. I wonder if there's a connection to Slott's other character Southpaw?

Yes. In She-Hulk 100, the time-travelling adult Southpaw said it was Guantlet who inspired her to become a hero. I wonder if we'll get a cameo of a young Kid Glove.

[david r]

This New Avengers: The Initiative is all fine and dandy, but it's taking time away from Dan Slott writing Moon Knight. I do not like this waiting.

[Rawle Austin]

This looks very interesting.

Will be checking it out.

Growler

[House Of Me]

This sounds AWESOME. 'Nuff said.

[Stalzer2002]

Not a fan of Caselli's artwork (his work on GI Joe was terrible)...but it is still Dan Slott...on an AVENGERS book! But I guess having Yellowjacket with the group shoots down my "Giant Iron Man" theory for Might Avengers. (Unless they're bringing back Rita DeMera or someone new). Still man, Hank Pym (can Firebird be far behind)! War Machine! Justice! New characters! A superhero boot camp might do the Blizzard some good.

[Scarlet Mage]

Slott said Brevoort was bouncing things off him. From their history, did he mean ideas or actual physical objects?

[Jed Saxon]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

War Machine

Sold. So sold. Yep.